The main aim of ClimCares is to investigate the potential impacts of climate change on Mediterranean marine biodiversity by developing warming scenarios by the end of XXIst century which will be coupled with the expected biological responses to temperature warming, more particularly the project is focused in the analysis of the occurrence the mass mortality events. ClimCares is developing an original strategy to assess potential risk of mortality outbreaks on the NW Mediterranean coastal areas. We are using a pluridisciplinary approach conducted at large geographic scale (the NWM) combining numerical simulations, field observations and bibliographic study lead by specialists in the fields of modelisation, data analysis and conservation biology. The expected results will furnish precious data for the conservation of the rich marine Mediterranean biodiversity.

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Funding entity: Total Foundation

Coordinator: J. Garrabou

Period: 2011–2013

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The main aim of the medDIVERSA project is to investigate current biodiversity patterns of highly diverse coralligenous communities dwellling in different areas of the W Mediterranean Sea. This analysis will allow to detect future biodiversity changes, and to develop potential future scenarios of biodiversity response to global change at large spatial and mid- to long-term temporal scales due to global change.

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Funding entity: Total Foundation

Coordinator: J. Garrabou & N. Teixidó

Period: 2010–2013

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The Biorock project focuses on the reactions, recovery, and prediction of future trajectories of NW Mediterranean species and communities that are facing the potential effects of climate change and invasive species. To achieve this, we are carrying out environmental (temperature) and ecological surveys (baseline data on structure and dynamics at community and population level) and developing population modelling tools (Population Viability Analysis). The main objectives of the BIOROCK project are to search for empirical relationships between the direct and synergic effects of temperature and species invasion on rocky benthic communities at different biological organization levels (individual, population and community); to establish environmental and ecological reference baselines; and to develop a series of tools for detecting changes and forecasting the long-term effects of disturbances on the effectiveness of management plans.

Characterization of deep-water communities dominated by long-lived species (Pararamuricea clavata, laminaria and fucoid algae) at the Marine Reserve of Columbretes Islands

The main goal of this project is to characterize the deep benthic communities dominated by long-lived species such as the red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata, fucal and laminarial algae around the Columbretes Islands. They are highly diverse and endangered communities with a high patrimonial and ecological value, however, there is an important lack of knowledge about their conservation status in Columbretes Islands MPA as well as along the Mediterranean litoral. This project is part of the LIFE+ Indemares project devoted to contribute to the protection and sustainable use of the biodiversity in the Spanish seas through the identification of valuable areas for the Natura 2000 Network.

Funding entity: Spanish Ministry of the Environment and Marine and Rural Affairs

Coordinator: C. Linares

Period: 2010–2012

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Bionomical cartography of the submerged coastline of Montgrí

The aim of this project is to obtain small-scale cartography of the topography and benthic communities of Montgrí coast and develop a geographic information system (GIS) that incorporates this information. Data on the existence and distribution of these communities will be essential for the management of this valuable natural area, which is subject to great anthropogenic pressure.

Funding entity: Girona Provincial Council, Government of Catalonia

Coordinator: B. Hereu

Period: 2009–2011

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Low frequent but high intense perturbations can also have an important role in determining the structure and composition of benthic communities. In this cololaborative project we are studying the effects of an exceptional storm occurred in winter 2008 on the benthic communities in the Medes' Islands area. The results are being analyzed in the framework of our long term series of monitorized species and communities available for this study area.

Funding entity: CSIC

Coordinator: M.A. Mateo

Period: 2009–2010

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IMAG–MAR: Application of new technologies to marine image analysis

IMAG–MAR's main aim is to improve the analysis of marine benthic communities through the development of new software. Although it is now technically feasible and effective to obtain numerous marine images at different depths and benthic habitats, we lack of efficient methods for quantifying the coverage area of benthic communities. The aim of this project is to offer an efficient software (Seascape: see www.seascapesoft.org) to semi-automatically quantify the cover area of each species/category within marine benthic communities.

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Characterization of the thermal regime of sea water at Cap de Creus Natural Park

Funding entity: Parc Natural de Cap de Creus

Coordinator: M. Zabala & J. Garrabou

Period: 2007–2011

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Study on the movement pattern and identification of essential habitats of the grouper Epinephelus marginatus, as criteria for its management and conservation: case study of the Parque Nacional Marítimo Terrestre del Archipiélago de Cabrera

Funding entity:Spanish Ministry of the Environment – Network of National Parks

Coordinator: R. Goñi

Period: 2007-2009

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Population of Cystoseira ssp. in the Natural Reserve of Scandola (Corsica)

Funding entity: Parc Naturel Regional de la Corse (France)

Coordinator: Enric Ballesteros

Period: 1994–2009

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MEDCHANGE. Evolution and conservation of marine biodiversity regarding global change: the case of Mediterranean communities in which long-lived species are predominant

Funding entity: Agence Nationale pour la Recherche (ANR)

Coordinator: J. Garrabou

Period: 2006–2008

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Study on daily and seasonal movements of two key species at a Mediterranean marine reserve: case study of grouper Epinephelus marginatus, and lobster Palinurus elephas

The aim of this project was to evaluate the capacity of small NW Mediterranean marine reserves, to effectively protect mobile exploited rocky benthic species. We studied the highly mobile spiny lobster Palinurus elephas and the sedentary dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus. Fixed and mobile arrays of radio-tracking devices were used to gather insight into movements at seasonal, medium and daily temporal scales.

Marine reserves proved to be effective for the dusky grouper, as this species is highly sedentary and spends the entire year within the reserve, except for some small-scale horizontal movements related to reproductive activity. In contrast, marine reserve demonstrated that were too small to effectively preserve spiny lobster population from fishing activities, since tagged individuals crossed the boundaries of the protected area and were fished, sometimes at a distance even further than 20 km from the reserve.

Funding entity: Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology

Coordinator: M. Zabala

Period: 2005–2008

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Inventory and cartography of Cystoseira species at the National Park of Port-Cros

Monitoring the evolution of the natural heritage of the Medes Islands protected marine reserve

The main objective of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Medes Islands Protected Area. Several species and communities were selected as indicators of the main disturbances affecting coastal marine communities. Photophilic algae and fishes vulnerable to fishing were selected as key communities. The sea urchins Paracentrotus lividus and Arbacia lixula, the lobster Palinurus elephas, the gorgonian Paramuricea clavata and the red coral Corallium rubrum were selected as indicator species.

The data set obtained from this survey is of exceptional value, due to the temporal scale it covers (> 15 years) and to the great number of indicators studied. The results have contributed greatly to our understanding of the functioning of marine reserves and the main Mediterranean communities. For example, the survey has demonstrated that although the Medes Island Protected Area has positive effects on some species (i.e. an increase in the size and abundance of fish species vulnerable to fishing) it can also be negative for other species (for example, there is increased predation by fish of juvenile phases of lobster within the protected area). In addition, the survey has shown that the reserve leads to more visitors, mostly divers, within the protected area. This has an impact on benthic species, and particularly those most vulnerable to erosion, such as the gorgonian Paramuricea clavata and the red coral Corallim rubrum.

Numerous researchers from the University of Barcelona’s Department of Ecology, the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC) and the Centre for Advanced Studies in Blanes (CEAB–CSIC) have participated in this project under the coordination of Dr. Mikel Zabala. In fact, most of the researchers from the MEDRECOVER group have been involved in monitoring of the Medes Islands, and the majority of them wrote their doctoral theses within the context of this survey.

Funding entity: Government of Catalonia

Coordinator: M. Zabala & Enric Ballesteros

Period: January 1990–December 2008

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